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FOR THE NEW YEAR 1777, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Again imperial winter's sway
Last Line: And our great cement be—the public good.
Subject(s): Burke, Edmund (1729-1797); Finality; Great Britain - Rulers; Holidays; New Year


Again imperial Winter's sway
Bids the earth and air obey;
Throws o'er yon hostile lakes his icy bar,
And, for a while, suspends the rage of war.
O may it ne'er revive!—Ye wise,
Ye just, ye virtuous, and ye brave,
Leave fell contention to the sons of vice,
And join your powers to save!

Enough of slaughter have ye known,
Ye wayward children of a distant clime,
For you we heave the kindred groan,
We pity your misfortune, and your crime.
Stop, parricides, the blow,
O find another foe!
And hear a parent's dear request,
Who longs to clasp you to her yielding breast.

What change would ye require? What form
Ideal floats in fancy's sky?
Ye fond enthusiasts break the charm,
And let cool reason clear the mental eye.
On Britain's well-mix'd state alone,
True Liberty has fix'd her throne,
Where law, not man, an equal rule maintains:
Can freedom e'er be found where many a tyrant reigns?

United, let us all those blessings find,
The God of Nature meant mankind,
Whate'er of error, ill redrest;
Whate'er of passion, ill represt;
Whate'er the wicked have conceiv'd,
And folly's heedless sons believ'd,
Let all lie buried in oblivion's flood,
And our great cement be—the public good.





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